British Invasion

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

What is it about British authors of X-men that produce some of the most interesting stories?

-Grant Morrison
-Mike Carey
-Alan Moore
-Joss Whedon (he was raised in the UK)

[The Fury]

What is it about British authors of X-men that produce some of the most interesting stories?

-Grant Morrison
-Mike Carey
-Alan Moore
-Joss Whedon (he was raised in the UK)
Claremont was was born in the UK. :)

thought I wouldn't class Whedon as a writing interesting stories. :p

Also, Alan Moore has never written the X-men.

[Flight]

The British are better?

[rilokyle]

Okay, this is SO American of me, but what does "British" signify? I'm still trying to figure out the difference between The UK and Great Britain. I can never remember. One includes Northern Ireland, right? :confused: Whenever someone says "British" I immeadiately think of the English. Oh geeeeez European History is SO not taught well here.

[MacLeod]

The British are better?


Yes we are :D

[Novaya Havoc]

The British are better?

plz


........

[Flight]

Okay, this is SO American of me, but what does "British" signify? I'm still trying to figure out the difference between The UK and Great Britain. I can never remember. One includes Northern Ireland, right? :confused: Whenever someone says "British" I immeadiately think of the English. Oh geeeeez European History is SO not taught well here. Ummmmm........ the UK & Great Britain are the same thing.......

[rilokyle]

Ummmmm........ the UK & Great Britain are the same thing.......

Woah, that's some trickery. I could have sworn they were two different things.

[rilokyle]

Ummmmm........ the UK & Great Britain are the same thing.......

Well, actually, I just wikipedia'ed it, and apparently The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (usually shortened to the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain) is a country and sovereign state that lies to the northwest of mainland Europe, with the Republic of Ireland as its only land border. It extends over all of the island of Great Britain and the north-east part of the island of Ireland.

What are your thoughts on that? Correct?

So I guess its saying that Great Britain is that island that includes England, Wales, Scotland, and whatever else is on that. And The UK is all of that plus Northern Ireland. Hmm.

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

Thank you for the geography lesson can we get back to the discussion now?

[rilokyle]

Thank you for the geography lesson can we get back to the discussion now?

What discussion?!? British writers are good. Riveting.

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

But it seems the most popular and compelling stories have been written by the Brits that I mentioned

[Flight]

Well, actually, I just wikipedia'ed it, and apparently

What are your thoughts on that? Correct?

So I guess its saying that Great Britain is that island that includes England, Wales, Scotland, and whatever else is on that. And The UK is all of that plus Northern Ireland. Hmm. I can't tell if you're serious or not?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland!
It couldn't really be simplier.
The Republic of Ireland is a seperate country with seperate currency, seperate laws and a seperate prime minister.

[tetragene]

Just a coincidence IMHO, nothing more.

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

Id rather read a new Austen X-men issue than by any of those guys except Carey.

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

Just a coincidence IMHO, nothing more.

:mad: *holds up 9"x12" photo of Colossus' obscene man-package...and throws it into the Dazzler thread*

Go fetch

[Gene M.]

Honestly, I think it's just that they're extremely talented writers. Their being British doesn't have much to do with it.

[Citizen V]

Claremont and Byrne are also from the UK.Besides them,i would go with Moore.

[Ryan K]

What are you looking for, some sort of catch all "British people know the X-men experience" answer?

Cause there isn't one.

Moore (who someone mentioned has never written the X-Men) and Morrison are probably considered two of the best (if not the 2 best) writers of comics ever. Carey's considered one of the best newer talents. And Whedon's (who's inclusion here is a stretch) has an outstanding writing resume outside of of comics.

So you're basically asking how these four well reknowned writers write the X-Men so well. Here's a hint, its because they're great writers. It has nothing to do with them being British.

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

What are you looking for, some sort of catch all "British people know the X-men experience" answer?

Cause there isn't one.

Moore (who someone mentioned has never written the X-Men) and Morrison are probably considered two of the best (if not the 2 best) writers of comics ever. Carey's considered one of the best newer talents. And Whedon's (who's inclusion here is a stretch) has an outstanding writing resume outside of of comics.

So you're basically asking how these four well reknowned writers write the X-Men so well. Here's a hint, its because they're great writers. It has nothing to do with them being British.


Hostile much?

I just think it's interesting that the "great writers" are from across the pond and the home grown ones (like austen, Kelly, etc.) came up with pretty "eh" storylines

[Editor]

I can't tell if you're serious or not?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland!
It couldn't really be simplier.
The Republic of Ireland is a seperate country with seperate currency, seperate laws and a seperate prime minister.

Great Britain = England, Scotland, Wales

United kingdom = Great Britain + NI

[Editor]

Hostile much?

I just think it's interesting that the "great writers" are from across the pond and the home grown ones (like austen, Kelly, etc.) came up with pretty "eh" storylines

You think that was hostile?

That was a perfectly reasonable answer to the question!

[twilight]

Why did you think Alan Moore had written the X-Men?

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

Didnt Alan Moore write a youngblood comic once?

[Pach!]

Hostile much?

I just think it's interesting that the "great writers" are from across the pond and the home grown ones (like austen, Kelly, etc.) came up with pretty "eh" storylines

Hostile? Aren't you the person who throws around "swamp bitch" like there' no tomorrow and are "disgusted" by people that don't like Emma? Maybe you should put those quotes in your signature too so you don't forget since you apparently like quoting yourself.

And I think the british things is just a coincidence..there are good writers and bad writers everywhere.

[Papa Moai]

What is it about British authors of X-men that produce some of the most interesting stories?They're influenced by different type of comics. The American comic-book industry has been strongly dominated by the superhero-genre, which mostly tells same old stories with same old characters. That is not the case in UK and rest of Europe.

[rilokyle]

Great Britain = England, Scotland, Wales

United kingdom = Great Britain + NI

Ahahaaa. Perfect equation. See Flight?


As for the alleged "discussion," how do you make sense of Peter Milligan then, born in Ireland. True, technically not British or from the UK, but in the same area. His X-Men run was generally frowned up (I happened to like it). How do you explain that "anamoly"?

And I actually liked Joe Kelly's run- a lot of people did. And he's American.

For that matter, Scott Lobdell was hit or miss writing UXM, but his run on Generation X was phenomenal. And he's American.

Big deal.

[Tobias March]

I just think it's interesting that the "great writers" are from across the pond and the home grown ones (like austen, Kelly, etc.) came up with pretty "eh" storylines

There's a few theories on this. Ellis reckons it's because the English/British writers of comics tended to have a more working class background. PAD's grand theory is that comic book writers tend to read....comics. And so don't have as good a grasp on good writing. Milligan, Morrison and Moore are all very literate writers.

On the other side of the coin America has Steve Gerber, Steve Englehart, Brian K. Vaughan - all talented writers. The coincidence of Moore and Morrison both being Cabalists I think stems more from a greater freedom of ideas in Britain. They had Crowley, Austin Osmond Spare etc. Americans had Carlos Castenada. Meh.

Personally I'd side with the idea that British writers that rose up during the 80's weren't exposed to the same comics as their peers. Certainly today there are a lot of writers working that seem unable to finish a story properly. There are even fans of Image era comics now who spend whole stories seemingly setting up splash pages. Of course now with the proliferation of the internet and easily obtained media I don't think that Atlantic divide will stand for much longer. We'll all be crap together! Yey :D

[Mikl C]

Ahahaaa. Perfect equation. See Flight?


As for the alleged "discussion," how do you make sense of Peter Milligan then, born in Ireland. True, technically not British or from the UK, but in the same area. His X-Men run was generally frowned up (I happened to like it). How do you explain that "anamoly"?

And I actually liked Joe Kelly's run- a lot of people did. And he's American.

For that matter, Scott Lobdell was hit or miss writing UXM, but his run on Generation X was phenomenal. And he's American.

Big deal.



GAAAAH
IRELAND =/= BRITAIN.
Ireland >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Britain. England mostly.

[Tobias March]

GAAAAH
IRELAND =/= BRITAIN.
Ireland >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Britain. England mostly.

Oh yeah - we rule. Boo-urns England ;)

[Sentinel K]

Oh yeah - we rule. Boo-urns England ;)

I was getting drunk with some irish nurses the other day.

They were teh awesoem.

'Nuff said.

[Faded]

I heard the name Joe Kelly.

*salivates*

[Novaya Havoc]

GAAAAH
IRELAND =/= BRITAIN.
Ireland >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Britain. England mostly.

I agree with this statement!

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

There's a few theories on this. Ellis reckons it's because the English/British writers of comics tended to have a more working class background. PAD's grand theory is that comic book writers tend to read....comics. And so don't have as good a grasp on good writing. Milligan, Morrison and Moore are all very literate writers.

On the other side of the coin America has Steve Gerber, Steve Englehart, Brian K. Vaughan - all talented writers. The coincidence of Moore and Morrison both being Cabalists I think stems more from a greater freedom of ideas in Britain. They had Crowley, Austin Osmond Spare etc. Americans had Carlos Castenada. Meh.

Personally I'd side with the idea that British writers that rose up during the 80's weren't exposed to the same comics as their peers. Certainly today there are a lot of writers working that seem unable to finish a story properly. There are even fans of Image era comics now who spend whole stories seemingly setting up splash pages. Of course now with the proliferation of the internet and easily obtained media I don't think that Atlantic divide will stand for much longer. We'll all be crap together! Yey :D


They're influenced by different type of comics. The American comic-book industry has been strongly dominated by the superhero-genre, which mostly tells same old stories with same old characters. That is not the case in UK and rest of Europe.

Thank you both for your intelligent contirbutions to this thread

[cowboyfunk]

Didnt Alan Moore write a youngblood comic once?

Yes...and it's the only Youngblood run worth reading. All three issues of it.

...sorry...off topic.

[Ice_Cold_Emma_Frost]

Yes...and it's the only Youngblood run worth reading. All three issues of it.

...sorry...off topic.

No that's fine....if a question is asked it should be answered (providing its informational in nature)

its just the ass-ngats you have to worry about :)

[The Sword Is Drawn]

So I guess its saying that Great Britain is that island that includes England, Wales, Scotland, and whatever else is on that. And The UK is all of that plus Northern Ireland. Hmm.

That is correct. UK includes Northern Ireland, the smaller part of a country we had no right to own, and cost a lot of lives because of that.

But less of the politics. It's not just X-Men British talent dominates the American Comic Book industry, right now. The following creative types hail from the UK.

Alan Moore
Alan Davis
Paul Neary
David Lloyd
Dave Gibbons
Chris Claremont
John Byrne
Grant Morrison
Mark Millar
Neil Gaiman
Garth Ennis
Warren Ellis
Bryan Hitch
Jim Cheung
Paul Cornell
Trevor Hairsine
Dan Abnett
Mike Carey

(Note: Joss Whedon did attend University over here, but he is American born.)

And those are just the ones off the top of my head. The reason, perhaps, is that since the early 90s there really hasn't been a comic book industry in the UK. It really kind of died out. It's pretty much just 2000 AD these days, and even they're now run by American money.

And yet, as you can see, there's a great wealth of talent out there, and their writing style suits modern comics in a manner that many American writers don't, right now. I think the whole case of American writers grow up reading comic books, British writers grow up through sci-fi, does hold a lot of water.

UK comic books have always pretty much been a 'No Costumed Superheroes zone'. 2000 AD still is. Over here it's a science fiction medium, where concepts such as heroes being hit by cosmic rays are laughed out of town as exceptionally poor writing. DC comics have never really broken into the UK for this reason. Batman is popular, because it something darker and because, by and large, the villains are just mental cases with a grudge.

Likewise X-Men has always done very well, because 'mutants' are a well though through sci-fi concept - their powers gifted at birth by a genetic quirk rather than some weird radioactive event or being struck by kind of space ray. Even now Marvel Universe titles do not sell very well in the UK. Daredevil and Spider-man are popular, largely I should imagine because of their more pulp style concepts. But it has taken many years to get an Avengers reprint title which has lasted that long.

It's no surprise, really, that so many British creators have ended up dabbling with the X-Men, but it's certainly not exclusive to the X-Titles. The British approach to comic books is more popular in this post 90s period. Writing comic book characters as real characters, as opposed to just accepting them AS comic book characters (And what the supposedly means in an iconic way) is now the norm. Brightly coloured costumes and stylised characters are no longer popular. It's the character behind that that matters.

And that's the way British writers have been writing comics for decades. It's not something that no American writer CAN do, by any long stretch. It's no surpise that writers like Bendis have had such success, because he comes at writing from a very similar discipline. He likes to look at Supervillains as organised crime - as a very realistic concept in a world where unreal is the norm. And that's why he sells well.

[Mikl C]

That is correct. UK includes Northern Ireland, the smaller part of a country we had no right to own, and cost a lot of lives because of that.


<3<3<3<3<3

[The Sword Is Drawn]

<3<3<3<3<3

Well, it's true.